U.s. Sky Spy Drone Falls In El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR — A remote-controlled U.S. Air Force spy plane crashed Friday in eastern El Salvador while gathering intelligence on rebel movements, U.S. and Salvadoran officials said.

No casualties were reported on the ground from the crash.

''The wreckage was gathered by the Salvadoran air force and will be examined to try and determine the cause of the crash,'' a U.S. Embassy spokesman said.

A Salvadoran army official said the plane was ''operating as part of U.S.-Salvadoran collaboration in the fight against subversion and to gather information on terrorist movements. It is not known why the plane crashed.''

The official declined to say where the plane was based, saying ''that would compromise security and military intelligence.''

U.S. Air Force reconnaissance planes have flown from a U.S. base near Palmerola, Honduras.

The type of aircraft was not known right away. Officials said it was operated by remote control.

The U.S. Embassy spokesman noted that with ''no one aboard, obviously no one was injured.''